Boy you guys are all over the map on this one... We know this much from lefty dogma: corporations are evil, concerned only with profits (God bless 'em!!), they would sell their mother for a dollar. We also know that, contrary to all available evidence, lefty talk radio is a smash hit that his been kept off the air by the same evil corporations run by evil white men. So which is it? Corporations are concerned only about profits and will do anything for a buck, or they ignore massive profits and instead leave lefty radio off the air?
2007-07-09 06:12:24 · 5 answers · asked by RP McMurphy 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
That's the issue. People talk about media concentration being a problem, as if somehow right-wing corporate types are shoving conservative talk radio down people's throats.
Corporations market what SELLS. If liberal talk radio got ratings and ad revenue, that's what they'd program. But for some reason, it does not.
If the licenses were broken up, the new, smaller stations would still broadcast what sells. In fact, with less of a financial cushion, they would be MORE likely not to experiment, and stick with the guaranteed money-makers - Rush, Sean, etc. The point about ownership is just a red herring.
2007-07-09 06:21:24 · answer #1 · answered by American citizen and taxpayer 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Most companies draw the line at actions that are self-destructive, even if they are initially profitable.
Let's assume your premises are correct (I don't actually agree with them, but let's continue anyway). If "lefty" talk radio goes on about how corporations are evil, and wants to see corporations demolished, then how would promoting that concept be in the interest of any corporation? Even if it made a short-term profit, if the idea was successful, it would bring an end to the corporation.
BTW, most "lefty" propaganda doesn't say that all corporations are evil. What they say is that corporations are often concerned solely with their own profits (which is often true, and in fact the defined purpose of a for-profit corporation) and that because they are primarily concerned with their own profits, they need to be government regulated to ensure they don't cause collateral damage. That's based on the assumption (by what you call "lefties") that corporations won't regulate themselves, and that the market economy and popular opinion is not sufficient regulation.
But that's beside the point.
2007-07-09 13:32:11 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Simple. Any profit that could be made by lefty radio would be more than offset by talk show hosts and guests who would be bound to propose something totally outrageous like: The rich should pay taxes. Also, tough to sponser a show that considers you, the sponser, as a representative of absolute evil.
2007-07-09 13:30:01 · answer #3 · answered by socrates 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Leftism poses more of a threat to their money than they stand to make.
On a related note, you won't see ABC criticize Disney or NBC criticize GE. Capitalism corrupts and creates news. The Corporatists also stifle or fire those who criticize and thus, threaten, their "way of life".
Watch for the water-skiing squirrel tonight at 10:00! (Followed by fear mongering)
2007-07-09 13:17:55 · answer #4 · answered by Craig L 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Let me see now, you are claiming there is no audience for progressive radio? MM MM, that's interesting since 50% of America is liberal! Maybe ownership of radio congloments may have something to do with the imbalance, ya think!
2007-07-09 13:19:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋